Came out of a disco at 0730 or so. Walked thru a bunch of Spanish soldiers at the Plaza Mayor and down a small alley where we came upon the peacock and two hens that evaded us by bolting up into the air when we surrounded them. Then to a little place that seemingly sold nothing but hot chocolate with bread to dip into it. Then a cab back to the flat to sleep until noon or so, when we stumbled down to the cafe for beer and blood sausage with tortilla (in this case, tortilla meaning something of an egg'n tater omelette). Then linger over several more beers just talking and watching people and traffic and enjoying the breeze and the shade. Then stumble back to the flat to nap for a bit. Rouse ourselves around ten or so to head out for dinner and mojitos and then a walk around the backstreets until we find an after hours joint in a basement where they dance the way I expected them to dance in Spain - like someone's watching all the time.

That is the best way for me to describe the pattern of life the way I saw it, and the fact that ANY schedule works in that city. I could just as easily have gone to bed every night at ten and risen at five in the morning and seen a city not unlike the one I saw on my trip. However, I would only have had a passing acquaintance with my companions, and I would've missed some of the really good stuff.

It wasn't just Madrid. It was being with you guys in Madrid that was cool. I will go back (I applied for an eight-month job in Amposta this evening online, so I'm not kidding around about it), and I will spend more time exploring the place in depth. For the moment, I just need to work on the Spanish and save my jingle.

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Speaking of which, I see another job online in Novosibirsk, Siberia that looks interesting. Ya know, if something like that only lasted a few months, I'm up for it. What the hell.

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Scratch that, it's for volunteers.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mugtoe
Scratch that, it's for volunteers.

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quote:

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Originally posted by oxsan
I agree PT that Mug got some beautiful pics of Madrid. mIt has been 18 years since I have been in Madrid and I think that it was not that beautiful when I was there. I think that they fixed it up just for Mug's arrival.

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I think that Franco was still in power when I was last in Spain. The return of the monarchy and then the switch to a republic may have brought about a beautification program. I don't mean that Madrid was drab before but it wasn't as lush as Mug's pics show when I was there. I have never been in the part of the city where the Olivar is.

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oxsan


Don't kick until yer spurred.

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We had a chuckle about the map you gave me to find my way around with. It was a Franco-era map, and most of the street names have since changed to reflect that shift. General Mola no longer has a street named after him. Still have the map, however. It was interesting.

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If you want to go to Jerusalem I have a map of that city printed when Golda Meier was Prime Minister. And one of Tehran that dates back to the rule of the Shah. I collect maps you know.

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oxsan


Don't kick until yer spurred.

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quote:

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Originally posted by oxsan
And one of Tehran that dates back to the rule of the Shah.

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It was a meaningless gesture for me to send that map to Mug anyway. Ten hours after his arrival ftom the reports above no one could read a map anyway---or cared.

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oxsan


Don't kick until yer spurred.

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Not true. However, we seemed to have difficulty distinguishing the difference between fresh food and foul.

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quote:

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Originally posted by oxsan
If you want to go to Jerusalem I have a map of that city printed when Golda Meier was Prime Minister. And one of Tehran that dates back to the rule of the Shah. I collect maps you know.

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I think a lot of my problems can be traced back to an adolescent crush on Golda Meir.



Since Pappy took us to live in a cave for a few years during that time, all I had to satisfy my unquenchable lust for Golda was a picture of Lyndon Johnson in a dress. (Close enough.)

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Last edited by Peter_Torque on 05-28-2003 at 03:31 PM

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Lyndon Johnson In drag? I can't stop laughing. He is the only president I have ever shaken hands with.

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oxsan


Don't kick until yer spurred.

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I'd forgotten about this little journal. It's been just over a year, and I want to go back soon.

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could you repost that link to the pics? It didn't seem to be working for me just now.

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absolutely

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Cheers. I had seen some of them, but nice to see them again. I need to make it to one of these sometime again.

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top, for mugtoe's sig.

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Anyone still in Madrid ? Might have a couple of days off there in october. ( 2012 )

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Bit late, but yes. I'm back in Madrid. Did you make it back to the airport?

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